Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1887-1890, 1887-08-20
CATTLE SEEING.

What the Canadians Have to Say OF
the subject-Their Side OF
the story.
MACLEOD. Alberta, August 9..The Ga
zette gives the Canadian side of the cattle
seizure question as follows: :
However strongly as we felt on this
subject, we did not propose that the Ga
eette should rush headlong into the matter
without acc uainting itself fully with the
facts in the case. With this end in view,
DIR. Allen, superintendent OF customs. was
interviewed. No more courteous govern
ment official exists than DIR. Allen, and we
found him willing TO give any information
in his nwe and this was not ii little.
The story is rather a long one, hnt We shall
give it as briefly as possible, and to do so
we must take our readers back to the time
of the cattle seizure and sale at Maple
Creek. These cattle were seized from
Spencer brothers, Canadians from Lon
don. Ontario, who were driving cattle
from Montana to a lease of 1000 acres in
the Maple Creek country. They We're to
have had these cattle in by September /,
1886, but they did not arrive until Dcto-
her. They We're at nee notified by Major
McIllree of the mounted police that they
would be obliged to pay duty. This they
refused to do. and We're notified by Major
McIllree Il second time, that unless they
did the cattle would be seized. Still they
refused, and to give them every chance
Major Mclllree sent Il party of men and
had the cattle driven south OF the line.
Special notice was given that if the cattle
were brought back they would be seized.
The men had hardly returned when the
cattle were driven in again and put on
winter. In the spring a report to this
effect was sent to DIR. Allen, who was in
the east. and he laid il before the govern
ment. On that report the government
ordered that the cattle he seized forth
with. The cattle We're accordingly seized
and Spencer notified.
THE CATTLE SEIZED. -
The remainder Of the story is pretty
we'll known. The custom authorities had
undoubted proof that the cattle were
driven back to Canada after repeated
warnings. and could not allow the laws of
the Dominion 10 be set at defiance in this
manner. They therefore did the only
thing they could do, seized the cattle, and
advertised them for sale. At the sale. no
bonatide bids being made, DIR. Allen
bought them in himself, and then gave no.
tiee that be would receiyetenders for their
purchase. Before this DIR. Allen had ad-
vised Spencer to pay duty on the value of
the cattle. which would then be given up
forthwith, while Spencer would have an
opportunity Of going to Ottawa about ii.
If everything was all right his money
would be returned to him. Spencer had
refused to do this. blu now. when tenders
were asked for, Spencer came and offered
to accept these terms. Acheck on a Hell
ena bank was backed by a responsible
party, and Spencer cot his cattle. Instead
Of going to the department, Spencer ac-
knoWledged that he was in the wrong,
and signed a document to the effect that
he repudiated all claim on the govern
ment. In the outfit there were three
brands Of cattle, all belonging to the
partnership Of Spencer Bros. DIR. Allen
then offered Spencer Is days to take the
cattle out Of the country. He only asked
for ten days. and would have been given
thirty. It is a signitfcent fact that Spen-
Ger would no deposit $500 to save $4,000
aud other costs connected with the tran
saction.
TIE RECENT SALES.
The cattle recently seized and sold at
Lethbridge were part Of the same outfit.
The Spencer Bros. were in partnership,
and the cattle which were seized had their
brands on. They had been duly notified
that any Of these cattle found in the coun-
try after the fifteen days they would be
seized and sold. and they knew what to
expect If they allowed them to get here.
The stray theory is not a very good one,
for cattle do not, as a rule stray north. So
far as we can understand the question,
there has been no breach of international
courtesy on the part of our officials, who
have only done their duty. This is the
case because, first, the Speneers' were
Canadians, not Americans. and secondly.
there had been all along an attemptto get
the better Of the customs, and to set at de-
fiance the laws Of Canada. The last case
would seem 10 be part of the old game
We cannot see how the Canadian officials
could have done their duty. and acted
otherwise than as they did. 1t is equally
certain that sensible stocknen in Montana
will not recognize in this case any desire